d announced that he was nearly exhausted from his
ardent labors, his weariness was not so great as his curiosity, and he
followed the corporal and Isaac.

It was Colonel Arnold, Colonel Easton and the two representatives of the
Connecticut Assembly, who had thus come into view, and the former, after
explaining to Corporal 'Lige that the troops had been halted in the
thicket lest they might be seen from the fort even in the gloom, asked
concerning the means of transportation.

Chagrined though he was at his inability to do more, the corporal was
forced to admit that he had hardly a sufficient number of boats to take
over seventy-five or eighty of the men; but this the colonel did not at
the time believe to be of great importance, for it seemed positive
Captain Herrick from Skenesborough, and Captain Douglas from Panton,
must before midnight send craft enough to transfer the entire force.

Therefore it was that the leaders of the party appeared well satisfied,
and the corporal must have come to the conclusion that he had fretted
himself without reasonable cause.

"You will remain in charge of the fleet," Colonel Allen said to the old
soldier, "with the boy to act as your lieutenant, and you may detail two
men as oarsmen in each boat. We will set out as soon as the remainder of
the craft arrives."

Then it was that Nathan believed he saw an opportunity to add to his
earnings of the day, and made the proposition that if the further sum of
four shillings be paid him he would aid in ferrying the troops across,
providing the work could be finished before midnight; but if it should
be delayed until morning he desired to be paid twice that amount.

No one seemed disposed to take advantage of this very generous offer;
now that his particular portion of the work had been done, it was very
much as if every one save Isaac ignored him.

"That's jest the way with these people from down 'round Bennington. They
get all they can for the least money, an' then throw you off. I ought to
have held out for more'n six shillings when I took that Master Phelps,
as you call him, over to the fort."

"But you got paid very well," Isaac suggested.

"Yes, so far as it went; but if I'd thought of all that's going on I
would have put up my price, or held out half-hired till the business was
over."

Now for the first time since their meeting did Corporal 'Lige's pupil
speak sharply to this friend.

"You should be ashamed to demand money for